ABOUT

Midland Railroad

Like the stage road, the route of the Colorado Midland Railroad in Chaffee and Lake Counties has largely been coopted by modern roads. This is especially true of the county roads which the S&R project has identified as the most appropriate to include in the historic route. Some are low volume but paved, others are gravel. Fortunately, despite modern usage and road maintenance activities, several important “relics” of the original railroad construction remain for the appreciation of travelers.

The Midland RR tunnels on Chaffee County 371 north of Buena Vista, constructed about 1886, are the most obvious evidence of the original route of the Midland locally along the Arkansas River. One might wonder why Midland engineers chose to use tunnels, with the huge extra effort that required, when it looks as if there might be space along the river’s edge. The problem for the Midland was the Denver and Rio Grand (D&RG) narrow gauge railroad had already laid claim there in 1880, and no amount of negotiation resulted in the two competitive lines sharing the narrow space. Responsibility for these tunnels lies with Chaffee County, and the S&R project is encouraging their maintenance and safety activities be accomplished without compromising their historic significance.

As the Midland construction pushed farther north along the east side of the Arkansas River, engineers often had to cut through loose rock and soil to provide enough width for their standard gauge track. They then had to construct several long sections of dry-stone retaining walls. These walls have survived remarkably well for over 140 years, thanks to their skilled hand-crafted construction - and careful avoidance by modern-day county road graders. There are a few places where the walls are beginning to fail, and the S&R project anticipates working with the County to secure professional assistance in making repairs.

After proceeding north of the tunnels along the east side of the Arkansas for several miles, Midland engineers concluded they must cross the river to the west shore for the remainder of their route to Leadville. This resulted in a classically constructed bridge with beautiful sandstone abutments and supports just north of the entry of Clear Creek into the Arkansas. There is currently no threat to these still-standing abutments, and the property owner (Pueblo Water Board) is aware of their historical significance. Although the S&R historical route is not designated along the Midland at his point, the project will remain attentive to any changes that might be proposed. An ideal outcome would be for the landowner to participate in an exchange with the state park or Bureau of Land Management that would result in public ownership of the riverbanks and the abutments.